Desmond Stoneham

WILLIE Mullins is well represented at Auteuil this weekend but he does not have a runner in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (French Gold Cup) which is the feature race tomorrow afternoon.

Instead, he will be concentrating on today’s Prix Les Grandes Gueules du Sport-Prix La Barka. This trial for the Grand Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle) on June 18th has been captured by Mullins three times in the last five years. Twelve months ago it went to Un De Sceaux and Ruby Walsh, who on this occasion will be aboard Shaneshill. Stablemate Open Eagle will be partnered by Paul Townend.

Nicky Henderson will contest the Barka with L’Ami Serge (Daryl Jacob) and Yorkshire-based Simon West has booked Joe Colliver for Maximiser. It will not be easy for the visitors as French Champion jockey James Reveley will have the leg up on the favourite Device for Guillaume Macaire, who has already totted up 87 victories this season and nearly €2.6 million in prize money.

The five-year-old Device had the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier at his mercy last November when falling at the second last. Reveley broke his left foot in the incident and was off the track for over two months but he already had the championship in the bag. Device has won a pair of Grade 3 hurdles this year and so should be just about spot on.

Shaneshill won the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January but his last two outings at Cheltenham and Punchestown have been disappointing. He runs over a shorter trip this time. Open Eagle has better recent form having won his only two races this year and, most recently, the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

L’Ami Serge is a consistent performer. Last month, he won the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown Park. The task looks rather more difficult for Maximiser, although he did just miss out over the course and distance just over a year ago in a listed contest. He was pulled up in his last two outings.

Alex De Larredya is another class act in the Barka and the winner last November of the Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne was behind Device when they met in March and still carries a penalty after his big win last year.

Mullins also runs Meri Devie (Walsh) in the Grade 3 Prix After Foot RMC-Prix Questarabad which he has won on four previous occasions, and 12 months ago with Footpad. After making a winning debut for her new trainer, Meri Devie has been placed in top Grade 1 hurdles at Leopardstown and Punchestown and this longer trip could suit. The opposition is tough and includes the Macaire-trained Candide and Prince Ali, plus Carina Fey’s Izzo who has recently landed a hat-trick. The chance of Francois Nicolle’s Hurkhan should also be respected as should that of D’Entree De Jeu.

Tomorrow James Reveley has a chance of landing back-to-back wins in the Grand Steeple-Chase with So French and the part Irish-owned Shannon Rock, who has been runner-up in this famous chase on four previous occasions, is also in the field of 15.

Macaire trains So French and he has picked up the race three times in the last four years. The six-year-old son of Poliglote has started the season with two victories and the latest came in the Grade 2 Prix Murat where he was joint top-weight. He meets several of the same horses again and on levels so must have an outstanding chance to taking the €382,500 winning purse for Magalen Bryant who also owns Device. The dangers could be Vanilla Crush, Perfect Impulse and Winneyev.

The best four-year chasers line up for the Grade 1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure. Trained by Nicolls, Srelighonn must have a leading chance in this race and others who appeal are Burn Out (Reveley), Darling Des Bordes, Full Glass Dalco Moriviere and Dica De Thaix, who will be running for the seventh time this season. Mullins also runs Pravalaguna in the Listed Prix d’Arles. She should take some prize money home and will have most to fear from Caresse d’Estruval, Vokalise and Viola St Goustan.

AUTEUIL - SATURDAY

Prix Les Grandes Gueules du Sport-Prix La Barka

Selection: DEVICE

Next best: Shaneshill

Prix After Foot RMC-Prix Questarabad

Selection: HURKHAN

Next best: Meri Devie

AUTEUIL - SUNDAY

Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris

Selection: SO FRENCH

Next best: Vanilla Crush

Prix Ferdinand Dufaure

Selection: SRELIGHONN

Next best: Burn Out